Cervical spine traction apparatus

Abstract

A cervical spine traction apparatus has a generally rearwardly open collar member which has a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions. Upwardly open rod supporting housings are provided in the lateral portions. A pair of upwardly extending rods are received within the housing. A rearwardly open chin support is adjustably secured to the rods in overlying relationship with respect to the collar member. The chin support has a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions. The chin support may be independently adjusted as to each rod to thereby provide asymmetrical traction to the user or may be so adjusted as to provide symmetrical traction, if desired. A back support member is adjustably secured to the chin support and to the collar member. Such securement may be effected by adjustable straps. The collar member, chin support and back support preferably have rigid body portions with underlying padding. The rods may be mounted for forward and backward movement during adjustment of the apparatus while putting it one the user.

I claim: 
     
       1. Cervical spine traction apparatus comprising a rearwardly open collar member having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   each collar lateral portion having an upwardly open rod supporting housing,   a generally upwardly extending rod secured within each said housing,   a rearwardly open chin support supported on said rods in overlying relationship with respect to said collar member,   said chin support having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending chin lateral portions,   said chin support having a first adjustment means which adjustably connects a first said chin lateral portion of said chin support to a first said rod and said first rod remains stationary as the first adjustment means moves relative to said first rod;   said chin support having a second adjustment means which adjustably connects a second said chin lateral portion of said chin support to a second said rod and said second rod remains stationary as the second adjustment means moves relative to said second rod;   a back support for engagement with the user's cervical spine region, and   connection means adjustably securing said back support to said collar member and said chin support;   whereby traction may be applied to the cervical spine through the movement of either said first or second adjustment means relative to said first or second rods, respectively.   
     
     
       2. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means being independently adjustable to permit asymmetrical traction to be applied to the user's cervical spine.   
     
     
       3. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 2 including said connection means including first strap means securing an upper portion of said back support to said chin support and second strap means securing a lower portion of said back support to said collar member.   
     
     
       4. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 3 including said first strap means being an elongated strap passing through said back support and having ends secured to said chin support by hook and loop fastening means.   
     
     
       5. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 4 including said second strap means being an elongated strap passing through said back support and having ends secured to said collar member by hook and loop fastener means.   
     
     
       6. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including said collar member having a substantially rigid body with padding secured to portions thereof.   
     
     
       7. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 6 including said chin support having a substantially rigid body with padding secured to portions thereof.   
     
     
       8. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 7 including said back support having a substantially rigid body with padding secured to portions thereof.   
     
     
       9. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 8 including said padding having portions secured to said collar member, chin support and back support in regions which will contact the user's body.   
     
     
       10. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second adjustment means each having manually operable means for securing said adjustment means to said rod with the desired level of traction and manually operable release means for releasing the engagement with said rods.   
     
     
       11. Cervical spine traction apparatus comprising a rearwardly open collar member having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   each lateral portion having an upwardly open rod supporting housing,   a generally upwardly extending rod secured within each said housing,   a rearwardly open chin support supported on said rods in overlying relationship with respect to said collar member,   said chin support having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   first adjustment means on said chin support for adjustable connecting a first said lateral portion of said chin support to said rod to permit traction to be applied to the cervical spine through a first lateral portion of said chin support,   second adjustment means on said chin support for adjustably connecting a second said lateral portion of said chin support to a second said rod, whereby traction may be applied to the cervical spine,   said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means being independently adjustable to permit asymmetrical traction to be applied to the user's cervical spine,   a back support for engagement with the user's cervical spine region,   connection means adjustably securing said back support to said collar member and said chin support,   said connection means including first strap means securing an upper portion of said back support to said chin support and second strap means securing a lower portion of said back support to said collar member, and   said first and second adjustment means each having generally outwardly open recesses for receipt of said first strap means.   
     
     
       12. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 3 including said lateral portions of said collar member having generally outwardly open recesses for receipt of said second strap means.   
     
     
       13. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including said rods being the sole structural connection between said collar member and said chin support.   
     
     
       14. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 7 including said body portions of said collar member, said chin support and said back support each being composed of vacuum-formed rigid plastic.   
     
     
       15. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including a generally forwardly facing opening disposed between said collar member and said chin support.   
     
     
       16. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 1 including said collar member being structured to rest on the user's upper chest and shoulders.   
     
     
       17. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 11 including said generally outwardly open recesses in said collar member disposed at least in part on the exterior of said housings.   
     
     
       18. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 11 including a tracheal access opening formed within the forward portion of said chin support.   
     
     
       19. Cervical spine traction apparatus comprising a rearwardly open collar member having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   each lateral portion having an upwardly open rod supporting housing,   a generally upwardly extending rod secured within each said housing,   a rearwardly open chin support supported on said rods in overlying relationship with respect to said collar member,   said chin support having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   first adjustment means on said chin support for adjustably connecting a first said lateral portion of said chin support to said rod to permit traction to be applied to the cervical spine through a first lateral portion of said chin support,   second adjustment means on said chin support for adjustable connecting a second said lateral portion of said chin support to a second said rod, whereby traction may be applied to the cervical spine,   a back support for engagement with the user's cervical spine region,   connection means adjustably securing said back support to said collar member and said chin support,   said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means being independently adjustable to permit asymmetrical traction to be applied to the user's cervical spine, and   track means disposed within each said housing to permit horizontal translational movement of the rod received therein.   
     
     
       20. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 19 including runner means secured to a lower portion of each said rod disposed within said track means for movement within said track means.   
     
     
       21. Cervical spine traction apparatus comprising a rearwardly open collar member having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   each lateral portion having an upwardly open rod supporting housing,   a generally upwardly extending rod secured within each said housing,   a rearwardly open chin support supported on said rods in overlying relationship with respect to said collar member,   said chin support having a front portion and a pair of generally rearwardly extending lateral portions,   first adjustment means on said chin support for adjustably connecting a first said lateral portion of said chin support to said rod to permit traction to be applied to the cervical spine through a first lateral portion of said chin support,   second adjustment means on said chin support for adjustably connecting a second said lateral portion of said chin support to a second said rod, whereby traction may be applied to the cervical spine,   said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means being independently adjustable to permit asymmetrical traction to be applied to the user's cervical spine,   said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means each having operating levers for raising said adjustment means on said rods and release plates for lowering said adjustment means on said rods.   
     
     
       22. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 21 including said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means each having a first chamber operatively associated within said operating lever and a second chamber operatively associated with said release plates.   
     
     
       23. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 22 including each said chamber having a plurality of washer elements overlying a compression spring.   
     
     
       24. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 23 including said second chambers overlying said first chambers.   
     
     
       25. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 23 including said operating lever having a portion extending into said first chamber to effect responsive movement of said first chamber washers against said first chamber compression spring responsive to movement of said operating lever.   
     
     
       26. The cervical spine traction apparatus of claim 23 including said release plate having a portion extending into said first chamber to effect responsive movement of said first chamber washers against said first chamber compression spring responsive to movement of said release plate.